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The primary research focus of my laboratory is Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which the main pathology is death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra. This leads to a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms that can be controlled to some extent with current drug treatments, but the efficacy of these treatments decreases over time. There is no cure for PD and its symptoms worsen over time leading to significant disability. Our basic, clinical and translational research programs are aimed at improving the quality of life for PD patients.
The multi-disciplinary research program in my laboratory is attacking the problem of PD in a way we hope will benefit patients at all stages of the disease. Part of our research is aimed at understanding the molecular/neurochemical factors contributing to dopamine neuron death in PD. We are assessing potential neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies that we hope will stop or slow the death of dopamine neurons and restore function to damaged cells. Our neuroprotection/neurorestoration program encompasses both basic pre-clinical studies as well as clinical trials of putative neuroprotective/neurorestorative agents in PD patients. Other pre-clinical and clinical studies are examining ways to improve and prolong the therapeutic response to standard anti-parkinson medications. We are developing molecular-based therapies that would reverse major physiological imbalances in the brains of PD patients and provide more effective symptom relief for late stage patients. Relief of non-motor symptoms of PD is a major unmet medical need. Ongoing research in our lab is examining the neurochemical basis of cognitive impairments associated with PD with the goal of developing therapies that will improve motor and cognitive impairments in PD patients.
We use a variety of techniques in our basic research including state of the art techniques of molecular and cellular biology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy and behavior. Our clinical research employs standard techniques to assess human motor and cognitive functioning.
In addition to our PD research program, the lab is also involved in studies of heavy metal neurotoxicity. Recent studies have examined the effects of developmental lead exposure on the functional maturation of the brain and neuroplasticity and have assessed the effects of chronic low level manganese exposure on brain neurochemistry and cognitive and motor functioning.
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